NJ Rule Change Ensures Lawyers Do Not Face Disciplinary Charges

“The New Jersey Supreme Court is considering a rule change that would ensure that lawyers who represent growers of medical marijuana don’t face disciplinary charges, even though those lawyers may be assisting their clients in violating federal law.

In a notice to the bar released May 19 by Judge Glenn Grant, the acting administrative director of the courts, the Judiciary said the Advisory Committee on Professional Conduct had proposed a change to RPC 1.2.

An attorney, who was not identified in the notice, had asked the ACPC whether he could represent a client whose business includes growing medical marijuana under the auspices of the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

Gov. Jon Corzine, as he was leaving office in 2010, approved legislation allowing for the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Regulations permit businesses to grow marijuana under a license, and restrict sales to a limited number of other licensed dispensaries.

However, growing and possession of marijuana remains a violation of federal law. The federal government has chosen not to prosecute growers or dispensers of medical marijuana, as long as they are licensed and regulated in the various states that have enacted medical marijuana legislation.”

It may scare away more lawyers and that’s not fair to clients who absolutely need a lawyer – Criminal Defense Attorney Tim Farrow

Continued…..

“Grant’s notice said the ACPC, by a slight majority, ruled that an attorney could represent the grower. But, he said, a minority “vigorously” asserted that RPC 1.2(d) did not permit an attorney to provide legal assistance to a client whose business is illegal under federal law.

The ACPC unanimously determined that the rule should be amended to permit lawyers to represent such clients, provided that the attorneys advise those clients about federal law, Grant said.

RPC 1.29(d) says: “A layer shall not counsel or assist a client in conduct that the lawyer knows is illegal, criminal or fraudulent, or in the preparation of a written instrument containing terms the lawyer knows are expressly prohibited by law, but a lawyer may counsel or assist a client in a good faith effort to determine the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law.”

The proposed amendment reads: “A lawyer may counsel a client regarding New Jersey’s marijuana laws and assist the client to engage in conduct that the lawyer reasonably believes is authorized by those laws. The lawyer shall also advise the client regarding related federal law and policy.”

“If the Legislature has passed laws to address these types of businesses, attorneys should be allowed to represent those businesses” without the possibility of facing ethics charges, litigator James Seplowitz said.

“An attorney has a duty to advise the client on how other laws may impact the client’s business,” said Seplowitz, of Foy & Seplowitz in Hackensack.

“This provides more of a safety net for lawyers representing these clients,” added litigator Timothy Farrow.

But Farrow, of Dash Farrow in Moorestown, also warned that the rule could pose certain dangers because of the complexity of federal marijuana laws.

“It may scare away more lawyers and that’s not fair to clients who absolutely need a lawyer,” he said.”

Tim Farrow, of Dash Farrow, LLP, is an experienced criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor who handles marijuana-related offenses and crimes, misdemeanors, and traffic arrests of any kind. When you need experienced, focused, and responsive legal help for a Marijuana-related arrest in South Jersey, call Dash Farrow, LLP at 856-235-8300 or Contact Us Here. We serve individuals and businesses throughout Burlington and Camden County, and all of South Jersey.